If you had to suggest just ONE healthy eating habit, what would it be?

[InMyGetawayCar]

Dreading this lockdown. I am in such a bad cycle of losing weight in summer, and putting it all back on through toast in the winter 😫

Eat 3 meals a day and a couple of snacks.
I don’t do this myself

No refined sugar. Once the addiction is broken you won’t miss it, the weight will drop off, you won’t be bloated, and you will naturally crave good foods only when hungry.

Plenty of varied fruit & veg.

Improves snacking, improves general health, more vitamin C

Change white bread, pasta and rice to brown.

What counts as refined sugar. Cakes?
Do most meals have refined sugar?

I eat crisps and cheese and crackers too much. Not refined sugar but highly processed.

Id like to eat better this lockdown.

The sugar addiction is so real. Cadbury’s has a hold on my soul I think.

No refined sugar, makes such a difference to mood and energy levels, snacking is also reduced becuase mostly when we snack we're not hungry just looking for a treat and weight falls off easily.

Hard for the first week or so but after that you don't want the sugar. But don't fall off the wagon or you're back to square one!

Does no refined sugar include alcohol?

Is it worth having a very structured meal plan? I’m just up and don’t particularly want breakfast, but likely will be desperate for crisps/ choc at 19.30.

I would raise the "no refined sugar" to "no refined carbohydrates". So no flour, sugar, potato waffles, pasta, couscous etc. And no alcohol at all. No carbohydrates that have been refined. But baked potatoes, homemade baked potato wedges with the skin on, brown rice, whole grain wheat products such as wheat berries or bulghur, quinoa are ok, as they take your digestive system much longer to break down so you feel full for much longer, & many have more fibre.

I hasten to add it's quite hard to do this at first, if you're cursed with a sweet tooth.

No snacks, except fruit & raw veggies.

@InMyGetawayCar

Is it worth having a very structured meal plan? I’m just up and don’t particularly want breakfast, but likely will be desperate for crisps/ choc at 19.30.

I find most things easier to stick to if I have a structure written plan, whether that's exercise, housework, study or food.

Fewer carbs - makes a huge difference to me

I can’t possibly just say one! One thing won’t work

Firstly, in light of Covid, evidence suggests whopping down Vitamin D3 could well be helpful

Type TDEE calculator in to google. Input the info as if you were already the weight you want to be. Now you know how many calories a day you must not exceed and you can work out how many calories your weaknesses have so you can still have them and don’t feel deprived - rose and soda spritzers with loads of ice, bar of Tony’s chocoloney, perle du lait coconut yogurts etc etc 😊. Then use the rest of your daily calories on high protein, filling foods - Grilled salmon and vegetables, porridge with peanut butter etc.

Also, Get one of those two litre water bottles with built in straw on amazon, fill with ice and water and lime slices first thing - great for curbing hunger pangs - definitely cuts down how much coffee I drink too

Eat eggs for breakfast

Eat when you're hungry, stop when you're full

Stop when full! Even if there are only 2 mouthfuls left on the plate.

No puddings after dinner

I think I need a plan. But one with flexibility and okay to change, but a plan so I know whats happening.

No snacking at all. Just wait for your next healthy meal.

Cut out liquid calories. Just drink water or herbal tea.

Don't eat unless you feel hungry & stop eating if the food doesn't taste as nice as you want it to taste (which is a sign you're no longer actually hungry for it). Listen to your body trying to tell you these things.

NO SNACKING
Eat at meal times and NEVER in between

Eat when you're hungry, stop when you're full

This.

Gaps - at least 2-3 hours between meals and snacks and 12 hour 'fast' between 7pm and 7am. Really helps calm down cravings.